Article

2018-12-21 Caribbean-Latin America

'Disturbing' new tactics: Mexican cartels use ultralight aircraft to smuggle illegals into U.S.

[Wash Times] Border Patrol agents tracked an ultralight aircraft as it crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and made it 30 miles into the country early Tuesday morning ‐ and when they got to the landing spot, they found two Chinese men who had been smuggled in by the aircraft.

The ultralight had escaped, lifting back off and returning to Mexico, but agents say they did manage to nab a Mexican man waiting in a vehicle near the landing zone in southern California, apparently ready to pick up the Chinese men and deliver them to their destination.

Experts said they had seen ultralights, small aircraft powered by lawn mower-sized engines, used to drop loads of drugs in the U.S. But they were surprised to see them being used to ferry illegal immigrants.

"It’s disturbing," said Chris Harris, who retired this year after a two-decade career as a Border Patrol agent in San Diego and who suggested it could be a way for cartels to get dangerous people across the border. "If you want to get some operatives in this country very quickly, that’s a way."

Gloria I. Chavez, chief patrol agent in the El Centro sector of the Border Patrol, agreed that ultralights pose a threat to "national security."

Posted by Besoeker 2018-12-21 00:45|| || Front Page|| [14 views ] Top
File under: Human Trafficking

#1 Would supplying the Border Patrol with anti-aircraft guns over kill? However we should wait until after Christmas Eve so Santa Claus has time to clear the border.

Posted by Ebbavirt Clunk4147 2018-12-21 02:44|| 2018-12-21 02:44|| Front Page Top

#2 Seems like a quick flyover with a jet plane would put an end to anyone attempting to do that.

Posted by gorb 2018-12-21 04:38|| 2018-12-21 04:38|| Front Page Top

#3 My nephew (Border Patrol) says that they've been hauling people (1-2 per trip) for some time, but on an occasional basis. The consensus is that those folks being transported are the high-paying kind and probably we should be very concerned as to who they are.

These light aircraft can be set up near the border and flown in a relatively short amount of time. Our radar wouldn't even indicate that something was up until they were part way into the 30-minute or so flight. Almost too late to scramble.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2018-12-21 08:39|| 2018-12-21 08:39|| Front Page Top

Not everyone riding around Baghdad in one of those taxis was a bad guy.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-12-21 08:46|| 2018-12-21 08:46|| Front Page Top

#5 Flack guns would work well for this.

Posted by DarthVader 2018-12-21 09:05|| 2018-12-21 09:05|| Front Page Top

#6 Self portrait, B?

Posted by Mullah Richard 2018-12-21 09:40|| 2018-12-21 09:40|| Front Page Top

#7 a low and slow 182 with light mahine guns just cruising up and down the boarder of each adjacent state to Mexico

Posted by 746 2018-12-21 10:05|| 2018-12-21 10:05|| Front Page Top

#8 No Rich, always back in the rear with the gear.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-12-21 10:21|| 2018-12-21 10:21|| Front Page Top

#9 If the cartels are using ultralights for smuggling humans across the border I'd think they are getting desperate.

Posted by JohnQC 2018-12-21 17:01|| 2018-12-21 17:01|| Front Page Top

#10 Great way to bring in nuclear materials, carfentanil & other weapons of mass destruction in very small packages. This has probably already happened.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2018-12-21 22:10|| 2018-12-21 22:10|| Front Page Top

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